Aripiprazole prescription

Aripiprazole

Generic Name: aripiprazole (ah rih PIP rah zole)
Brand Names: Abilify, Abilify Discmelt

What is the most important information I should know about aripiprazole?

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Aripiprazole is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Aripiprazole has caused fatal heart attack and stroke in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

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Stop using aripiprazole and call your doctor at once if you have the following symptoms: fever with stiff muscles and rapid heart rate; uncontrolled muscle movements; symptoms that come on suddenly such as numbness or weakness, severe headache, and problems with vision, speech, or balance.

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Aripiprazole can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

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Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of aripiprazole.

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Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by aripiprazole.

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Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking aripiprazole.

What is aripiprazole?

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Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain.

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Aripiprazole is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression).

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Aripiprazole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking aripiprazole?

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Aripiprazole is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Aripiprazole has caused fatal heart attack and stroke in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

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Before taking aripiprazole, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

kidney disease;

heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems;

a history of heart attack or stroke;

a history of breast cancer;

seizures or epilepsy;

a personal or family history of diabetes; or

trouble swallowing.

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If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use aripiprazole, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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Aripiprazole may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are taking aripiprazole.

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FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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Aripiprazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take aripiprazole?

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Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

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Do not take aripiprazole for longer than 6 weeks unless your doctor has told you to.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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Aripiprazole can be taken with or without food.

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Aripiprazole is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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Measure the liquid form of aripiprazole with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

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To take aripiprazole orally disintegrating tablets (Abilify Discmelt):

Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package and peel back the foil from the tablet blister. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.

Using dry hands, remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away.

Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.

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It is important to take aripiprazole regularly to get the most benefit.

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To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

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Store aripiprazole tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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Aripiprazole oral solution should be stored in the refrigerator and can be used for up to 6 months after opening.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an aripiprazole overdose may include drowsiness, vomiting, agitation, aggression, confusion, tremors, fast or slow heart rate, seizure (convulsions), trouble breathing, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking aripiprazole?

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Aripiprazole can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

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Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.

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Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of aripiprazole.

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What are the possible side effects of aripiprazole?

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Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

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Stop using aripiprazole and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;

jerky muscle movements you cannot control;

sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, or weakness;

feeling light-headed, fainting; or

urinating less than usual or not at all.

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Continue taking aripiprazole and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness;

constipation;

nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;

headache, anxiety;

sleep problems (insomnia); or

weight gain.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect aripiprazole?

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Before taking aripiprazole, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

a medication to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition;

carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin);

rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox);

quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute); or

fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), or paroxetine (Paxil).

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If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use aripiprazole, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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There may be other drugs not listed that can affect aripiprazole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has more information about aripiprazole written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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